Buttonhole-sewing machine



July 10, 1923.

A. E. LINDNER BUTTONHOLE SEWING MACHINE 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet l FiledApril 2'7 July 10, 1923.

A. E. LINDNER BUTTONHOLE SEWING MACHINE Filed April 27. 1921 3ShGGtS-Sheet 2 ummm@ July 10, 1923:

A. E. LINDNER BUTTONHOLE SEWING MACHI NE Filed April 2v. 1921 3Simms-Sheet 5 BOTTOM CHM mam?- Patented July l0, 1923. l

LUNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE,

ARTHUR LINDNER, OF BROOKLYN, NEVVYORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE L. AND H. SPECIALMACHINE CO., INC., OF NEW vYORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

BUTTONHOLE-SEWING MACHINE.

Application filed April 27, 1921.

To all w 7mm t may concer/n.'

` Be it known that I, ARTHUR E. LINDNER, a

citizen of the Republic of Germany, and

residentv of the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inButtonhole-Sewing Machines, of which the following is a description.

` This invention relates to button-hole sewing machines and has for itsprimary object to provide a machine for this purpose Wherein the needleoperatesin a single vertical position, together with means for shiftingthe material or goods in a horizontal planewithout turning or twistingthe same so as to cause the line vof stitching to follow accurately theoutline of thebutton-hole to secure the reinforcing cord along the edgethereof. ln carrying out my present invention, in one embodimentthereof, lfprovide a plate longitudinally shiftable vupon a. laterallymovable plate andupon which the material is placed over a key-hole slotconforming in outline to the shape of the button-hole in the material,and cammeans for imparting the requisite Vmovement to lsaid plate andthe material thereon during the stitching opervation'so as to ,cause theline of stitching to accurately 'follow theoutline of the buttonholewithout necessitating a movement-of the material with respect vto theplate having the key-hole slot'therein,`and thereby permitting'thevertically reciprocating needle to remain in a constantoperating'position.

In this manner I have succeeded in greatly simplifying the constructionof such machines since the relatively vcomplicated mechanism heretoforeemployed for shifting the pointV of penetration of the needle Iso thatitfollows the outline of the buttonhole isl dispensed with, and in lieuthereof, a comparatively simple meansisl employed for progressively!changing or shifting the position of the button-hole in the materialwith'respect to the line of movement of the needle.

With theabove andA other objects in view, the' invention consists in theimproved form, construction' and relativearrangement of the severalparts .i as will be hereinafterr more fully 4described, illustrated inIthe accompanying drawings, and subsequently incorporated in'thesubjoined claims.

"In the drawings wherein lhavedisclosed one desirable and practicalembodiment of Serial No. 464,850.

the invention and in which similar reference characters designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a perspective view illustrating a button-hole sewing machinewherein the needle and operating means therefor is shown in dottedlines, while the essential features of the present improvement areillustrated in full lines.

Figure 2 is aperspective view of the bed plate, the longitudinallymovable plate being removed therefrom.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the means for transverselyshifting y the bed plate and of the superposed longitudinally movableplate;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the longitudinally shiftable plate;

Figure 5 isa detail vertical section illustrating the mounting of thetransversely and longitudinally shiftable plates and the means forimparting a compound movement Ato the latter plate;

Figure 6 is a detail perspective .view of the motion transmitting means,certain of the parts being shown in dotted lines;

Figure 7 is a similar view of a fragment of the pivoted cam actuated armfor transversely shifting the plates;

Fig. 7a represents a detail of a part of the connecting mechanismbetween the work carryingslides and the disc cams for actuatin them. i

ligure Sis a diagrammatic .plan view illustrating the relation of thevarious portions of the actuating cams to dierent sections ofthebutton-hole outline;

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic plan `view illustrating the severalprogressive stages of the stitchingioperation with relation to theoutline of the button-hole;

Fig. 9EL represents a diagram in which is indicated the start of thesewing operation at the left hand side of the buttonhole.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary! plan view showing an adjustable,v type ofcam, which may be employed;

Figure l1 is a fragmentary plan view showing another alternative formof'icam means, and

Figure 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the materialhaving a completed button-hole.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in Figure l thereof, I haveillustrated in dotted lines the arm 5 within which is housed theoperating means for the thread carrying needle 6. This arm is mounted atits rear end in the usual man1-ier upon the machine frame which includesthe bedyplate 7. Be-

neath the forward end of this plate, loop forming mechanism of anypreferred type is mounted, but since this loop forming mechanismconstitutes no essential part ot the present improvement it will not befurther referred to in detail.

Upon the rear end portion of the bed 7 within a recess thereof atransversely shittable plate 8 is mounted,- the upper surfaces of saidbed and the plate being flush. This platev adjace-nt to its oppositesides has spaced guides 9 secured thereon to receive the longitudinaledges of a plate 10 which is superposed upon said plate to move inunison therewith transversely oi' the machine, and for longitudinalshifting movement with respect thereto.- The plate 10 is `provided witha longitudinally extending depressed spring tongue 11 in its forwardcentral portion, the said tongue having a slot 12 therein, one end ofwhich is circularly enlarged as at 13 so that the said slot is oi' keyhole form.

A throat plate 1li is yieldingly held upon the plate 10 by means of theleat' spring 15 and has a depressed portion engaging upon the tongue11,- said throat plate being'likewise provided with a key-hole slot- 16.

The rear end o't an arm 21 is pivotally mounted in the machine frame asat 22 and adjacent to its forward end a pin 23 is fixed in the upperedge of said arm and is loosely engagedv in an opening orl socket 2lprovided in the block 25 which is iiXed to the lateral extension 26 onone edge of the plate 8;

A depending bracket 27 is secured to the outer side of the arm 21 andhas an inwardly projecting lug 28 on its lower end upon which the roller29 is mounted tor engagement with the peripheral face of a primary diskcam 30.

The top plate 10 is provided with a hole through which depends a fixedpin 17. The bottom plate 8 is provided with' a longitudinal slot 18. Ashiitable block 2O is mounted between spaced guides 7 on the bed plate 7below the plate 8 opposite said slot 18 thereof.' This block has ashifting movement longitudinally with respect to the plate 8 and isprovided with a channel or groove 19 which is disposed at right anglestothe slot 18 in the bottom plate 8. The pin 17 fixed to the top plate10 and projecting through the hole therein as aforesaid depends downwardthrough the longitudinal slot 18 in the plate 8 and into the channel orgroove 19 in the block 2O engaging both said slot and said channel asshown in Fig. 5. The slide block 20 is provided with a dependant boss 31which carries a roller 32.

A contractile` spiral spring 3i is connected at one end to said boss andat the other end to the bed. This spring tends to hold the roller 32 inengagement with the peripheral face oi a secondary disk cam 33'superposed upon or in fixed relation with the disk cam 30 and rotatingas a unit therewith. These cams are iiXed upon a common axis and anydesired operating means may be provided therefor, such for instance asthe pawl and ratchet mechanism indicated at 35 in Fig. 8 of thedrawings.

To the forward endI or' the arm 21 one end of a coil spring 36 isattached, the other end of said spring being connected to al suitablepart et the bed plate 7. This spring operates to at all times hold theroller 29 in engagement with the peripheral tace of the primary disk cam30. It will be apparent from this description that the cam 30 operatesto impart a. unitary lateral shifting movement to the Aplate 8 and theplate- 10 with respect to the bed 7 of the` machine frame, while the cam33 aetuates the slide block 2O and this block through the medium of thepin 17 effects a longitudinal shifting movement oithe superposed plate10 upon the plate 8V.

Referring now to Figure 8 oi` the drawings, A indicates in out-line theform of the button-hole which is out in the material, having acircularly enlarged end. B corresponding to the form of they key-holeslots y12 and 16. The button-hole in the material is, however, somewhatsmaller than the dimensions ofthe slots 12 and 16 so that the needle 6,in passing through they latter slots will penetrate the materia-l at theedge oi the button-hole A.` The bottom cam 30V is provided upon itsperipheral face with a cam surface 37 to effect a lateral movement ofthe material with respect to the line 0i movement ot the needle for adistance corresponding to the width of the button-hole atA its narrowerend. Another portion 'of the peripheral face of the cam is Vinterruptedor provided with a multiplicity of cam projections 38, which effect aplurality of sho-rt lateral 'shiiting movements of the material so as toproduce a zig zagrstitch extending along onestraight side edge of thebutton-hole. Another part of the face of this cam indicated at 39 iscomparatively continuous or uninterrupted andl produces the necessarylateral movement of the material with respect to the needle so that theline of stitching is carried around the enlarged curved end B` of thebutton-hole. The remainderoi'` the peripheral faceV of this cam isprovided with a plurality oninterruptions or projections 40corresponding to the cam portions 38 and which producera zig zag stitchalongthe opposite straight side edge of the lza'itton-hole,v j

The other of the 'cams 33 el'ects the neeessary longitudinal movementsof the material with respect to the line of movement of the 1 needle andisprovided with continuous cam surface portions 4l` and 42 respectivelyto produce a longitudinal movement of the material corresponding to theopposite straight side edges of the buttonhole. Between these camsurfaces 4l and 42 the peripheral face of the cam has a multiplicityofcam projections 43 and 44 respectively, the projections 43 causing anumber of short longitudinal movements around the yenlarged end B of thebutton-hole to thereby produce a zig zag stitch while the projections 44effect the longitudinal movements across the opposite or narrower end ofthe button-hole.

In Figure 8 of the drawings I have indicatedby arrows leading from thebuttonhole diagrams thevarious sections'thereof tol which the differentoperations of the two cams correspond in producing the requisite lateraland longitudinal movements of the i simultaneously. f

In Figure 9 I have shown diagrammatically the several progressive stagesof the operation and have indicated the various altered positions of thebutton-hole -in the material withrespect to the vertical. line ofoperationof the needle which, at all times, remains constant. The pointof penetration of the needle through the material is shown in this viewby the vertical and horizontal intersecting dot and dash lines. I havealso herein indicated the re-inforcing cord which is laid around theedge of the button-hole and over which the stitches are applied. Themeans for positioning this reinforcing cord as the sewing operationprogresses does not constitute an essential feature of my presentinvention and need not, therefore, be herein disclosed. It will beobserved that the zig zag stitches around the enlarged end B of thebutton-hole are accurately positioned in radial alignment with thecenter thereof. The completed buttonhole will, therefore, be very neatin appearance. By providing the means for imparting the combinedmovement to the material automatically and with respect to thereciprocating needle it is not necessary to turn or twist the materialin stitching around the circular end B of the button-hole.

In Figure 9 of the drawings I have indicated the start of the sewingoperation at the right hand side of the button hole at its narrower endand then proceeding progressively therefrom longitudinally and aroundthe enlarged end of the button-hole, and then in a reverse longitudinaldirection along the left hand side of the button hole.

However, as shown in Figure 9 I preferably start the sewing operation atthe left hand side and at the lower end of the button hole so that theoperation continues in a reverse direction to that indicated in Figure9.

After the sew-ing operation has been completed, the threadis cut orsevered in the usual manner. This cutting mechanism is located beneaththe base plate 7 of the machine, but since it likewise constitutes noessential part of my' present invention, further reference thereto isunnecessary.

In Figure IO of the drawings, I have shown a slightly modified form ofthe operating cams wherein means is provided for adjusting the variouscam portions. To this end, the body of the cam is provided at itsperiphery with a plurality of radially adjustable lugs said lugs beingsecured by means of screws 46, each lug having a slot 47 permitting ofthe shifting movement of thelug with respect to the holding screw.

By adjusting these cam lugs 45, the extent of lateral and longitudinalmovement of the plate upon which the material is positioned may bevaried accordingly as may be required owing to the particular shape andsize 0f the vbutton-hole. Such adjusting means also enablesme tocompensato for such wear as may occur and to thereby secure, at alltimes, a high degree of accuracy in operation.

In Figure Il I have shown still another modified form of the cam meanswherein a single cam disc is employed having a cam track 48 in its uppersurface to receive the cam roller 32-on the slide block 20 and alsoprovided with a cam track 49 on its lower surface to receive the roller29 on the pivoted arm 21.

In Figure l2 I have shown a button-hole as completed by means of thepresent invention and it will be observed that the stitches are veryregularly applied in close relation t0 each other so that they willproperly confine or secure the reinforcing cord in place around the edgeof the button-hole. A particular feature of my invention resides in theregular application of the stitches across the narrow end of thebutton-hole at the completion of the sewing operation so that they arenot piled upon each other as would be the case if the point ofpenetration were merely shifted longitudinally to opposite sides of thereinforcing cord.

From the foregoing description, considered 1n connection with theaccompanying drawings, the construction and manner of operation of myimproved button-hole sewing machine will be fully understood. Themechanism which I provide for producing a gyratory, longitudinalandlateral movement of the material in a horizontal plane with respect tothe point of penetration of the needle, is relatively simple in itsconstruction7 not liable to get out of order and is highly accurate andreliable in practical operation.

By means oil2 suoli a mechanism the machine as a whole can bemanufactured at less cost than other machines ot that type wherein meansis provided for moving the needle progressively around the edge of thebutton-hole.

While .l have herein shown and described a preferred and satisfactoryembodiment of my invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that themachine is susceptible 0f many modifications in the form, proportion andarrangement of its several parts, and I therefore reserve the privilegeof adopting all such legitimate changes as may be fairly embodied withinthe spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

l. In a machine for sewing around the edges ot button-holes of key holeshape, in combination with a needle mounted to reciprocate in a constantvertical position, superposed plates? means tor holding` the materialupon the uppermost plate against movement with respect theretov` meansfor shitting said plates laterally as a unit and additional meansoperating simultaneously with the tirst named means to impart alongitudinal shifting movement to the uppermost plate with respect tothe lower plate and thereby vary the position ot the buttonhole in thematerial with respect to the line of movement of the needle toprogressively form a line of stitching around the edge of thebutton-hole with the individual stitches extending substantially atright angles thereto; said laterally and longitudinally shifting meanscomprising disk cams in iXed relation one above the other, a springcontrolled pivoted arm provided with a dependent bracket carrying aroller engaging the periphery ot" the primary disk cam, a bed supfported slide block provided with a dependant boss engaging the peripheryof the secondary disk cam and a pin dependant from said top plate andengaging a groove in the bottom plate and a channel in said bloei;disposed at right angles to said groove, and a spring` for; holding saidboss in contact with said secondary cam.

2. ln a buttonhole sewing machine, the combination ot a laterallyshiftable bottom plate having a longitudinal slot, a longitudinallyshii'table top plate mounted on said bottom plate and provided with adependant pin engaging said slot, a bed supported slide block having agroove disposed at right angles to the slot of said bottom plate, saidpin extending downward and engaging said Igroove. said slide blockhaving a dependant boss, a laterally swinging arm provided with meansengaging said laterally shiftable plate, snperposed disk cams in fixedrelation to each otherj means on said boss and said arm for engaging theperipheries of said dish cams respectively and actuating means lor saidcams.

In testimony that I. claim the foregoing as my invent-ion, I- havesigned my name hereunder. -1

